This year most Canadians had to cut down their budgets, and its impact is also noticed on this holiday shopping season. The situation is more difficult for students as they have to manage a tighter budget than most other segments of the population. Boxing Day (December 26) is part of the year-end shopping season in which most Canadians shop. Usually, this shopping goes up to several thousand dollars as most households plan ahead. The reason why most people plan ahead for Boxing Day is because most retailers offer big sales during this season.
Do We Really Get ‘Best Deals’?
It really depends who you ask this question. Yes, you can get very good deals on Boxing Day, but at the same time you can easily be enticed to buy a lot of things that you simply do not need. If you do not want to regret buying the ‘best deal,’ then do some research before making any big purchase during this time. Students usually need electronic items like laptops, external hard drives, USBs, and such necessary items for their studies; therefore they can plan and take advantage of big sales on Boxing Day. However, if you just want to go to the mall to buy whatever you get on a ‘deal,’ then you should know that impulse buying can be a burden on your wallet.
What Is Different This Year?
As we have already discussed above, 2024 has been a difficult year for most households. Canadian consumers are more focused on needs rather than wants in this shopping season, according to Retail Insider. The results are part of two surveys that were conducted this year just after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, showing a visible change in consumer attitudes this year. Most customers were also not satisfied with the deals offered this season, and all of this is resulting in fewer sales this year. The long Canada Post strike has delayed many shopping orders, due to which some customers also shift from online shopping to in-store shopping during the season.
How To Plan For Boxing Day?
The best way to make the most of this time is to plan ahead. Like, what do you need, what is the budget, and where could you get the product? The more time you give to this research, the more advantage you can take. If you need big-ticket items, like a laptop, new computer screen, TV, or furniture, then you should wait for this holiday season, as you can save hundreds of dollars on deals. Check out the approximate prices online and then compare them with the in-store prices once you reach there for shopping.
Many retailers offer discounts for a complete week, i.e., from Boxing Day till the end of the year. All you need to do is check if your specific retailer is doing the same. By doing so, you can save yourself from overcrowded malls and shopping chaos on Boxing Day while still getting what you need. This way, you will only visit those stores where you really want to go and not other stores.
How To Avoid Overspending?
One of the most problematic aspects of the deals is when you are forced to buy more just because you are offered a discount. For instance, deals such as ‘Buy One Item, Get Another 50% Off’ are definitely not in your interest because the company is forcing you to buy more. Yes, you get the discount on your first item, but you also spend on the second item, which you do not want, and this you need to pay out of your budget. Many a time, stores give a discount on their low-priced items and charge in full for the second item. What you also need to be careful about is the return policy of stores because what many stores do is that they return the product with a discount card instead of returning your money in cash. This way you unnecessarily get bound to the store for your next purchase so that you can use that discount card.
When you go shopping, try not to keep your credit card with you. Instead, keep cash or a debit card with you to reduce the chances of overspending on deals that you do not need. Although these are small things, they can keep you in your planned budget, and you will not regret it.
Conclusion
The origins of Boxing Day tell us that this was reserved for charity and helping people, whereas today it has turned into an event of big sales and shopping. There is no harm in shopping if you get good discounts on the products you need. However, it does become a problem when you start spending on things that you do not use or simply start living beyond your means.
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